Grading bar for leveling ground

ABSTRACT

A grading bar leveling ground includes a panel formed as a blade having a forward-facing-surface and a backward-facing-surface, a plurality of gussets, at least one horizontal member coupled to the panel, and a support-and-coupling-member. The grading bar is attachable to an implement including machine such as a front loader tractor, a skid steer loader, an excavator backhoe, a tractor backhoe, or a rear three point tractor hitch and is configured for smoothing and leveling ground as manipulated by the implement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of excavating equipment and more specifically relates to a grading bar for efficiently leveling ground.

2. Description of Related Art

Typically, during construction workers must fill ruts, smooth the ground, and level dirt mounds so that the ground. This stage of construction is commonly referred to as “final grading.” Items of heavy mobile construction equipment which a building contractor typically has available for performing final grading include tractors having a rear three point implement hitch, skid steer loaders or front loader tractors having articulating paired lift arms, and tractor backhoes or excavators having a jointed articulating boom arm.

A typical earth moving implement attachable to such three point hitch is a box blade, and another typical earth moving implement attachable to lift arms or boom arm is a dirt moving bucket. While a dirt moving bucket may efficiently move localized piles of earth, and while a box blade may efficiently smooth narrow swaths of ground, neither implement is capable of quickly and efficiently grading an entire curtilage requiring varying earth moving, filling, and smoothing tasks. A suitable solution is desired.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,860,044 to Darwin Robert Keiper relates to a quick attachable blade. The described quick attachable blade includes a blade attachment that can be attached to an excavator or backhoe in 10 seconds and removed in 3 seconds from the operator's seat without the need for tools, nuts, bolts, pins, chains, hoses or additional personnel. The blade attachment is secured to the bucket with two u-shaped adaptors welded to the inside of the bucket. The blade has opposing brackets which support a grab bar and adjustable striker bar, allowing it to be installed on numerous buckets without modification, and providing for quick removal. The design of the bucket adaptors and striker bar prohibits the blade from being removed during earth moving and grading operations, but allows the operator to maintain a level grade when the machine is sitting on as much as a 10% grade difference.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known excavating equipment art, the present disclosure provides a novel grading bar for leveling ground. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a grading bar for level ground, to save people from manually raking, and smoothing such surfaces.

A grading bar is disclosed herein. The grading bar includes a panel formed as a blade having a forward-facing-surface and a backward-facing-surface, a plurality of gussets, at least one horizontal member coupled to the panel, and a support-and-coupling-member. The plurality of gussets is independently coupled to the backward-facing-surface of the panel. The at least one horizontal member may extend from a first end of the panel to a second end of the panel to provide rigidity to the panel and to minimize flex under heavy load. The support-and-coupling-member are coupled to the backward facing surface of the panel. The forward-facing-surface is planar across its entire surface and does not comprise edge-extension caps so as to leave a flat-grade on soil or earth moved by the present invention (no lines left when blade is moved away from ground surface). Further the bar is not designed to act in the capacity of a scoop (bucket) and doesn't have an arcuate forward-facing-surface. The grading bar is attachable to an implement and is configured for leveling ground as manipulated by the implement including machine such as a front loader tractor, a skid steer loader, an excavator backhoe, a tractor backhoe, or a rear three point tractor hitch.

For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a grading bar for leveling ground, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the grading bar during an ‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the grading bar of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the grading bar of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to excavating equipment and more particularly to a grading bar for leveling ground as used to improve the grading bar for leveling ground.

Generally, the present invention is a dirt grading implement that may be attached to a machine such as a front loader tractor, a skid steer loader, an excavator backhoe, a tractor backhoe, or a rear three point tractor hitch. The device may save time and labor. The grading bar (blade) for leveling ground smooths and moves rock or dirt and saved people from raking.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in FIGS. 1-3, various views of a grading bar 10. FIG. 1 shows a grading bar 10 during an ‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the grading bar 10 may include a panel 12 formed as a blade having a forward-facing-surface 14 and a backward-facing-surface 16, a plurality of gussets 18, at least one horizontal member 20 coupled to the panel 12, and a support-and-coupling-member 22. The plurality of gussets 18 is/are independently coupled to the backward-facing-surface 16 of the panel 12. The at least one horizontal member 20 may extend from a first end of the panel 12 to a second end of the panel 12 to provide rigidity to the panel 12. The support-and-coupling-member 22 are coupled to the backward facing surface of the panel 12. The grading bar 10 is attachable to an implement and is configured for leveling ground as manipulated by the host implement.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the grading bar 10 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the grading bar 10 may include the panel 12 forming the blade having a forward-facing-surface 14 and a backward-facing-surface 16, a plurality of gussets 18, at least one horizontal member 20 coupled to the panel 12, and a support-and-coupling-member 22. The grading bar 10 may further comprise an anchor 24, the anchor 24 being removably attached to the at least one horizontal member 20 and the support-and-coupling-member 22. The anchor 24 is adapted for removable attachment to the implement comprising a machine such as a front loader tractor, a skid steer loader, an excavator backhoe, a tractor backhoe, or a rear three point tractor hitch. The anchor 24 may include a plurality of attachment points 26 to provide ‘semi-universal’ attachment means which may include bolt holes. The plurality of attachment points 26 may include at least 4 attachment points. The anchor 24 comprises at least one plate-like structure 28.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the grading bar 10 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the grading bar 10 may include the panel 12 providing the blade having a forward-facing-surface 14 and a backward-facing-surface 16, a plurality of gussets 18, at least one horizontal member 20 coupled to the panel 12, and a support-and-coupling-member 22. The grading bar 10 may further comprise an anchor 24; the anchor 24 being removably attached to the at least one horizontal member 20 and the support-and-coupling-member 22.

The anchor 24 may comprise a plurality of ears 30 extending from the plate-like structure 28 which may be changed to accommodate a machine being used. The plurality of ears 30 includes two protruding elements. Each of the two protruding elements extend from a top of the plate-like 28 structure to a bottom of the plate-like structure 28. Each of the two protruding elements includes an opening 32. The opening 32 has an open circular cross-sectional shape suitable for ready attachment to the implement. The at least one support member may be positioned equidistant from the first end of the panel 12 to the second end of the panel 12. The support member includes an elongate member positioned between two of the plurality of gussets 18. The plurality of gussets 18 includes 4 wedges. The plurality of gussets 18 extend substantially from a top of the panel 34 to an upper surface of the horizontal member 36 to promote vertical stability and rigidity. The support-and-coupling-member 22 may include cammed-surfaces for ease of attachment to the implement.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. 

What is claimed is new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:
 1. A grading bar comprising: a panel formed as a blade having a forward-facing-surface and a backward-facing-surface; a plurality of gussets, said plurality of gussets being independently coupled to said backward-facing-surface of said panel; at least one horizontal member coupled to said panel, said at least one horizontal member extending from a first end of said panel to a second end of said panel to provide rigidity to said panel; a support-and-coupling-member, said support-and-coupling-member coupled to said backward facing surface of said panel; wherein said forward-facing-surface is non-arcuate in profile and is planar across its entire surface and does not comprise edge-extension caps; and wherein said grading bar is attachable to an implement and is configured for leveling ground as manipulated by said implement.
 2. The grading bar of claim 1, further comprising an anchor, said anchor being removably attached to said at least one horizontal member and said support-and-coupling-member.
 3. The grading bar of claim 2, wherein said anchor is adapted for removable attachment to said implement comprising a machine selected from the group consisting of a front loader tractor, a skid steer loader, an excavator backhoe, a tractor backhoe, and a rear three point tractor hitch.
 4. The grading bar of claim 2, wherein said anchor includes a plurality of attachment points to provide semi-universal attachment means.
 5. The grading bar of claim 4, wherein said plurality of attachment points includes at least 4 attachment points.
 6. The grading bar of claim 2, wherein said anchor comprises at least one plate-like structure.
 7. The grading bar of claim 6, wherein said anchor further comprises a plurality of ears extending from said plate-like structure.
 8. The grading bar of claim 7, wherein said plurality of ears includes two protruding elements.
 9. The grading bar of claim 8, wherein each of said two protruding elements extend from a top of said plate-like structure to a bottom of said plate-like structure.
 10. The grading bar of claim 8, wherein each of said two protruding elements includes an opening.
 11. The grading bar of claim 10, wherein said opening has an open circular cross-sectional shape suitable for ready attachment to said implement.
 12. The grading bar of claim 2, wherein said at least one support member is positioned equidistant from said first end of said panel to said second end of said panel.
 13. The grading bar of claim 2, wherein said support member is an elongate member positioned between two of said plurality of gussets.
 14. The grading bar of claim 1, wherein said plurality of gussets includes 4 wedges.
 15. The grading bar of claim 1, wherein said plurality of gussets extend substantially from a top of said panel to an upper surface of said horizontal member to promote vertical stability and rigidity.
 16. The grading bar of claim 1, wherein said support-and-coupling-member comprises cammed-surfaces for ease of attachment to said implement.
 17. A grading bar for leveling ground, comprising: a panel formed as a blade having a forward-facing-surface and a backward-facing-surface; a plurality of gussets, said plurality of gussets being independently coupled to said backward-facing-surface of said panel; at least one horizontal member coupled to said panel, said at least one horizontal member extending from a first end of said panel to a second end of said panel to provide rigidity to said panel; a support-and-coupling-member, said support-and-coupling-member coupled to said backward facing surface of said panel; an anchor, said anchor being removably attached to said at least one horizontal member and said support-and-coupling-member; wherein said anchor includes a plurality of attachment points to provide semi-universal attachment means; wherein said plurality of attachment points includes at least 4 attachment points; wherein said anchor comprises two parallel-mounted plate-like structures forming a boxed-section; wherein said anchor further comprises a plurality of ears each extending from said plate-like structure; wherein said plurality of ears includes two protruding elements; wherein each of said two protruding elements extend from a top of said plate-like structure to a bottom of said plate-like structure; wherein each of said two protruding elements includes an opening; wherein said opening has an open circular cross-sectional shape suitable for ready attachment to an implement; wherein said at least one support member is positioned equidistant from said first end of said panel to said second end of said panel; wherein said support member is an elongate member positioned between two of said plurality of gussets; wherein said plurality of gussets includes 4 wedges; wherein said plurality of gussets extend substantially from a top of said panel to an upper surface of said horizontal member to promote vertical stability and rigidity; wherein said support-and-coupling-member comprises cammed-surfaces for ease of attachment to said implement; wherein said forward-facing-surface is non-arcuate in profile and is planar across its entire surface and does not comprise edge-extension caps; and wherein said grading bar is attachable to said implement and is configured for leveling ground surfaces as manipulated by said implement. 